Missing Episodes
Most of the original 432 episodes of Dixon of Dock Green are still missing. Only 51 still exist, due both to the show being broadcast live in the early days and the BBC's policy of wiping old videotapes for re-use before realising their possible historical significance – in summary:
- Series 2 (1956): the last five episodes
- Series 7 (1960): two episodes
- Series 9 (1962): three episodes
- Series 11 (1964): one episode
- Series 13 (1966): five episodes
- Series 14 (1967): seven episodes
- Series 15 (1968): three episodes
- Series 17 (1970/1): first episode
- Series 18 (1971/2): two episodes
- Series 20 (1974): five episodes
- Series 21 (1975): nine episodes
- Series 22 (1976): complete – eight episodes.
In addition, location film sequences exist for 14 otherwise missing episodes, as follows: series 7 (1), series 13 (4), series 14 (6), series 15 (3).
An out-take sequence also exists from a colour episode involving two criminals in which one of them, played by Victor Maddern, finds himself unable to deliver correctly the required line "It's down at Dock Green nick!" – referring to a stolen necklace. After two failed attempts, in which the line is spoken both as "It's down at Dock Green dick!" and "It's down at Dick Green dock!", Maddern asks the unseen director "Couldn't I just say 'It's down at the nick'?"
The public appeal campaign the BBC Archive Treasure Hunt continues to search for lost episodes.
Read more about this topic: Dixon Of Dock Green
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